Constitution
The Committee on the Judiciary plays an important role in protecting people's constitutional rights and-when the Constitution falls short of its promise "to form a more perfect Union"-in amending the Constitution. In the 116th Congress, the Committee passed a resolution to revoke the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and held hearings on state efforts to curb people's constitutional right to an abortion, the lasting negative impact of Citizens United on our campaign finance system, the constitutional role of the pardon power, and opportunities to reform presidential clemency. The Committee also filed several lawsuits to uphold its constitutional authority to conduct oversight of the executive branch. In the 117th Congress, the Committee will continue to build on these accomplishments and further the Constitution's promise of a more perfect Union.
More on Constitution
Yesterday, President-elect Donald Trump announced that U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) would be his choice for U.S. Attorney General. We need an Attorney General who represents the American people's best interests by fighting to strengthen voting rights, prevent violence against women, and work to reform our broken immigration system, among other priorities. Senator Sessions was denied a federal judgeship in 1986 following a history of racially-charged comments and disturbing attitudes towards minority groups; and his record since only furthers cause for concern.
This morning, President-elect Donald Trump announced that U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) would be his choice for Attorney General. We need an Attorney General who represents the American people's best interests by fighting to strengthen voting rights, prevent violence against women, and work to reform our broken immigration system, among other priorities. Senator Sessions was denied a federal judgeship in 1986 following a history of racially-charged comments and disturbing attitudes towards minority groups; and his record since only furthers cause for concern.
The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States constituted the deadliest foreign attack on American soil in our Nation's history.
Their impact has been immeasurable as evidenced by the fact that we are still grappling with their cultural and policy implications.
And, 15 years later, their powerful emotional effect on Americans remains as strong as ever.
Those who lost loved ones or were injured as a result of this horrific attack deserve our deepest sympathy and our help.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), leaders of the bipartisan Policing Strategies Working Group, today issued the following joint statement on the police-involved shootings in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Charlotte, North Carolina and subsequent protests:
In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court recognized a woman's constitutional right to make what is perhaps the most profoundly personal of healthcare decisions –when to start a family – free from undue government interference.
Unfortunately, since 1976, Congress has sought to undermine this important constitutional right by attaching the so-called "Hyde Amendment" to annual appropriations measures funding the Department of Health and Human Services.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you, Commissioner Koskinen, for joining us today on short notice, under these unusual circumstances.
Last week, a handful of my colleagues attempted to force a vote on your impeachment. When it appeared that they would fall short of the necessary votes, that effort was abandoned-and this hearing was scheduled instead.
"Under the modern practice, an impeachment is normally instituted by the House by the adoption of a resolution calling for a committee investigation. This committee may, after investigation, recommend the dismissal of charges or it may recommend impeachment."[1] The effort to impeach Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen contains none of the hallmarks of actual impeachment hearings-which would entail an independent investigation and due process for the accused.
The Impeachment Process:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
10:00 a.m. Full Committee Hearing
Impeachment Articles Referred on John Koskinen, Part III
Witness:
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The Honorable John Koskinen, Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service
2237 Rayburn House Office Building
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
10:00 a.m. Full Committee Hearing
Oversight of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Witness:
Today's hearing focuses on federal diversity jurisdiction whereby federal courts may hear otherwise purely state law cases if the plaintiff and the defendant are citizens of different states.
For more than 2 centuries, Congress has imposed, and the Supreme Court has upheld, the requirement of "complete" diversity, which mandates that every plaintiff must be a citizen of a different state than every defendant for a federal court to have jurisdiction of the lawsuit.